2026 Kaufman Music Center International Youth Piano Competition
SYLVIE CHIU
Sylvie Chiu is ten years old and a fifth grader at The Wilberforce School in Princeton, New Jersey. Sylvie began her musical journey at age four and currently studies with Qi Zhang. Sylvie has won several local and international competitions. She was the First-Place Winner at the XV Chopin International Piano Competition (Hartford, CT), the Third-Place Winner at the Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition, and a multiple-time First-Place Winner at the New Jersey Music Teachers Association Young Musicians Competitions. She also received First Prize at the International Grande Music Competition and the U.S. New Star International Music Competition. In addition, she won the Gold Award at the WPTAFinland International Piano Competition, Second Prize at the Ocean Music Foundation International Piano Competition (NY) and was a Silver Medalist at the Piano Star International Competition. Sylvie has performed at Carnegie Hall multiple times, including her first solo piano recital there in December 2023, when she was eight years old. Her favorite composers are Chopin and Beethoven. In addition to playing the piano, Sylvie enjoys swimming, reading, and creative writing.
Final Repertoire
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Piano Sonata No. 10 in C Major, K. 330
I. Allegro Moderato
Claude – Debussy Reflets dans l’eau
Frédéric Chopin – Rondo in E-flat Major, Op. 16
ADELYNN LI
Adelynn Li, nine, began piano studies with Lena Grozman at the age of five after her parents discovered her perfect pitch. She currently works with Ory Shihor and also receives guidance from Ilana Vered. At eight, she made her orchestral debut in Italy with the Orchestra Delle Cento Città under the baton of Eitan Globerson, following her Carnegie Hall debut at the age of six. Adelynn has earned top honors in numerous local, state, and international competitions, including First Prize in both the 2026 and 2025 CAPMT Honors Competition State Finals, Second Prize in the 2025 CAPMT Concerto Competition State Final, First Prize in the 2025 KAMSA Competition, winner of the Junior Bach Festival (2024–2026), First Prize in the 2024 USOMC Showcase Solo, and Silver Prize in the 2025 San Francisco International Piano Competition. Her earlier achievements include first prizes in competitions such as the Concert Festival International, North American Virtuoso, American Protégé, Golden Classical, Charleston International, Best Bach Performance, World Grand Prix, and Music Legacy Open. Beyond music, Adelynn is a four-year recipient of the Challenger School Scholarship and a three-time Young Author Gold Award winner. She enjoys reading, writing, swimming, and exploring math and science.
Final Repertoire
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Piano Sonata No. 18 in D Major, K. 576
I. Allegro
Franz Schubert – Impromptu in E-flat Major, Op. 90, D. 899
Frédéric Chopin – Variations brillantes in B-flat Major, Op. 12
OLIVIA LI
Olivia Li, seven, from New York, began playing the piano at age four and studies with Qi Zhang at Musart Music School. She was recently accepted to both the Curtis Institute of Music and Juilliard Pre-College Division for the upcoming school year. A joyful and expressive young pianist, Olivia loves performing on stage and sharing her music with others. Olivia has received recognition in numerous international competitions. Her achievements include the Grand Prize at the XVI Chopin International Piano Competition in Hartford, CT; Grand Prize at the Chicago International Music Competition, Grand Prize at the Ocean Music International Piano Competition, First Prize at the Henle Piano Competition, and Gold Prize at the Piano Star International Competition and the VIVO International Music Competition. She was also awarded the Second Prize at the Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition, where she received the Best Nocturne Prize across all age groups. Olivia has performed at major concert venues including Carnegie Hall and Merkin Hall. Outside of piano, Olivia enjoys reading, drawing, painting, crafting, swimming, and ice skating, approaching each activity with curiosity and creativity.
Final Repertoire
Joseph Haydn – Keyboard Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI:49
I. Allegro
Frédéric Chopin – Nocturne in G Major, Op. 37, No. 2
Frédéric Chopin – Etude in G-sharp Minor, Op. 25, No. 6
Ludwig van Beethoven – Capriccio in G Major, Op. 129, “Rage Over a Lost Penny”
STEPHANIE YUEYOU LIU
Stephanie Yueyou Liu, ten, is a Canadian pianist and violinist based in Vancouver. She currently studies piano with Dr. Steven Spooner at The Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University. She began her piano studies at the age of four with Cindy Liu and Dr. Sun Sung Kong at KL Piano Academy, with whom she continues to study. In 2025 Stephanie was a prizewinner and received the Award for Youngest Participant at the 32nd International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in Szafarnia, Poland. In 2026, she won First Prize in the ten-year-old Piano Division of the 67th Canadian Music Competition (BC), advancing to the National Finals in Montréal. She also won First Prize and the Outstanding Player Scholarship (Judges’ Nomination Award) at the 65th Canadian Music Competition (2023); recognition for the Canadian Young Artist Standards of Excellence; multiple First Prizes and highest marks at the Kiwanis Music Festival, with Provincial Festival Recommendation and the VKMF Award; First Prize at the Vancouver International Music Competition (2024); and Gold Prize at the Liszt Hungary International Music Competition (2021). Recommended by the Vancouver Chopin Society and specially invited by Professor Wojciech Świtała, Stephanie was awarded a place at the 16th International Piano Masterclasses Katowice, sponsored by the European Union (to be held in July 2026). Stephanie made her orchestral debut in 2024, performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the West Coast Symphony Orchestra. She has been an invited performer at the Chopin Marathon Gala Concerts in Vancouver for three consecutive years (2024–2026) and in 2024, she presented her first charity piano recital in Vancouver, raising over 3,500 CAD for the Canadian Cancer Society and Covenant House. Stephanie has broad artistic and athletic interests, and enjoys opera, chess, figure skating, swimming, rock climbing, and badminton.
Final Repertoire
Joseph Haydn – Keyboard Sonata in C Major, Hob. XVI:50
I. Allegro
Frédéric Chopin – Scherzo No. 1 in B Minor, Op. 20
Grażyna Bacewicz – Piano Sonata No. 2:
III. Toccata
JUNXI VICKY MO
JunXi Vicky Mo, born in 2015, is currently a grade five student at Mulgrave School in West Vancouver, Canada. She began her piano studies at the age of four under the guidance of Cindy Liu and Dr. Sunsung Kong at KLPiano Academy, demonstrating remarkable talent and dedication in her musical journey. In the 2020-2021 Crescendo International Competition, she claimed First Place—an honor that earned her an invitation to perform at New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall. She also secured the Gold Award at the 2021 Liszt Hungary International Music Competition and was honored with the 2020 Canadian Young Artist Model Award for her outstanding artistry and commitment. In 2024, JunXi Vicky Mo won the Gold Medal in the under-nine category at the Seattle International PianoCompetition, along with the Teacher’s Favorite Award and the Audience Choice Award. In 2025, she further achieved Second Place nationally in the Piano Division (ages 7–10) of the Canadian Music Competition. For JunXi Vicky Mo, the piano is more than just an instrument—it is a spiritual companion and her true passion. She aspires to become a concert pianist, aims to spread joy through her music, frequently plays at nursing homes, and entertains young children with her performances. Beyond music, she enjoys drawing, swimming, and playing the flute.
Final Repertoire
Joseph Haydn – Keyboard Sonata in F Major, Hob. XVI:23
Felix Mendelssohn – Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 14
Franz Liszt – Valse-Impromptu in A-flat Major, S. 213
Francis Poulenc – Impromptu No. 15 in C Minor, “Hommage à Édith Piaf”
ETHAN WANG
Ethan Wang, ten, began piano studies at the age of four and has shown remarkable musical focus and artistry from an early age. He currently studies with Nicolas Namoradze, and previously under guidance of J. Marilyn Engle in Calgary, Canada. Ethan has earned recognition at both international and national levels. In 2025, he won First Prize at the Nashville International Chopin Piano Competition (Young Musician I Division) and First Prize at the International Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Kronberg, Germany (Age Group III: 9–11). He also received Second Prize at the 32nd International Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in Szafarnia, Poland (Age Group I). During the COVID‑19 pandemic, Ethan achieved the Absolute First Prize at the 3rd Great Piano Masters Competition (Spain) and Gold Prize at the 4th Vienna International Music Competition. In Canada, Ethan won the Grand Prize in the 7–10 age group at the 2025 Canadian Music Competition (CMC) National Finals and has placed first or second at the CMC for three consecutive years. He was also awarded Second Prize in the Junior Division at the Canadian Chopin Competition, where he was the youngest finalist. Ethan has performed widely. Highlights include his orchestral debut with the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra and playing Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A Minor with the Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra in 2025. Ethan also was invited to play at Canmore Arts Center for a solo program when he was seven and played at various winner’s concerts in Casals Forum Hall at Kronberg, Germany, Koerner Hall in Toronto, Canada, and Bella Concert Hall in Calgary, Canada. Outside of music, Ethan enjoys reading, Rubik’s Cube, 3D design, mathematics, and badminton.
Final Repertoire
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Piano Sonata No. 9 in D Major, K. 311
III. Rondo. Allegro
Sergei Rachmaninoff – 12 Romances, Op. 21: No. 5. Lilacs
Frédéric Chopin – Rondo in E-flat Major, Op. 16
ANNIE YIN
Annie Yin is a nine-year-old pianist from New York. At age eight, she was admitted to the Juilliard School Pre-College Division, where she studies with Ernest Barretta. Annie has performed at Carnegie Weill Recital Hall and Paul Hall in The Juilliard School. Since beginning her piano training, she has received top prizes in multiple piano competitions including: First Prize in the 2023 Global Genuis Music Competition, First Prize + Exceptional Young Talent Special Prize in the 2023 Golden Classical Music Awards International Competition, Silver Prize at the 2023 Euterpe Music Awards International Competition, and Third Prize at the 2025 Hartford Chopin International Piano Competition. Outside of music, Annie loves reading, math, ice skating, and ballet.
Final repertoire
Jean-Philippe Rameau – Le Cyclopes
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Piano Sonata No. 12 in F Major, K.332
I. Allegro
Frédéric Chopin – Nocturne in D-flat Major, Op. 27, No. 2
Witold Lutoslawski – Bucolics
I. Allegro vivace, II. Allegretto sostenuto, III. Allegro molto, IV. Andantino, V. Allegro marciale
ALEXANDER ZHOU
Alexander Zhou is a young pianist studying with Dr. Natela Mchedlishvili at Kaufman Music Center’s Special Music School. He is a proud recipient of 2025-2026 From the Top Learning and Media Lab Fellowship Program and has featured in NPR's award-winning music showcase program Tiny Desk Concert. Alexander has performed in the United States, Poland, Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, including his orchestral debut at age six and a solo recital at Steinway Hall New York at age eight. He has received top honors at many competitions, including First Prize at the 31st Fryderyk Chopin Piano Competition for Children and Youth in Poland, and both the First Prize and the Special Prize for Best International Pianist at the 2nd International Piano Competition for Young Pianists in Kronberg, Germany. Beyond the piano, Alexander has a deep passion for musical theater, choral singing, improvisation, and composing.
Final Repertoire
Joseph Haydn – Keyboard Sonata in E-flat Major, Hob. XVI: 49
I. Allegro
Frédéric Chopin – Rondo in C Minor, Op. 1
György Ligeti – Etude No. 4, “Fanfares”
